Voter ID Required For All? Republicans In PA Are Pushing A New Bill

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania's election system would undergo a significant overhaul under legislation advanced Monday by Republican state representatives. The GOP-controlled House State Government Committee approved a measure authorizing a referendum on a constitutional amendment requiring unspecified "valid identification" to be presented when people vote in person or by mail.

The committee also approved proposed legislation also would change the secretary of state, Pennsylvania's top election official, from a position appointed by the governor to one elected by voters; require the state auditor general to audit every election before the results are certified; and require paper ballots to have a watermark and be open to public inspection after the the vote is certified.

The reform package is the latest attempt by state Republicans to significantly alter the elections process in the wake of former President Donald Trump's claims that last year's presidential election was "stolen" from him via fraud. Trump has presented no evidence to support those claims, which nonetheless have triggered calls for reforms by his supporters.

The proposed constitutional amendment seemingly is a way to get around a gubernatorial veto of a bill mandating voter ID requirements. Gov. Tom Wolf in June vetoed just such a bill, saying that voter ID measure was not about improving security but about restricting the freedom to vote; a governor has veto power over a constitutional amendment.

To amend the state constitution, a proposal must pass both the House and Senate chambers twice, once each in consecutive two-year sessions, before going to voters in a statewide referendum. The earliest a referendum could be held on the voter ID measure is spring 2023.

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